Expectations for the reopening of the Rafah crossing tomorrow with the presence of a European mission

Attention is turning to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, where informed sources reported that the crossing will be reopened tomorrow, Thursday, for the movement of travelers, after more than a year of closure by Israeli forces.

According to the sources, the resumption of operations at the crossing will coincide with the return of the European Union monitoring mission, along with personnel from the Palestinian Authority, in a step that reflects the beginning of the implementation of the understandings agreed upon at the recent Sharm El-Sheikh summit.

The Palestinian presidency had confirmed its full readiness to operate the crossing, a point reiterated by President Mahmoud Abbas's envoy, Mohammad Shtayyeh, who clarified that the Authority has informed all parties of its logistical and administrative readiness.

In contrast, Israeli officials indicated that "technical inspections" are still ongoing, which may delay the reopening process, especially in light of the disputes related to the file of the bodies of Israeli prisoners who died during their detention in Gaza.

For his part, the spokesperson for the European Union's foreign policy, Anwar Al-Anouni, explained that the mission's task focuses on monitoring the movement of entry and exit, and that the team includes experts from several European countries, including France, Spain, and Italy.

It is worth noting that the Rafah crossing has been closed since mid-2024, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the sector and leading to the spread of famine in some of its areas.

However, the agreement sponsored by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States with Turkish participation, stipulated the reopening of the crossing and the entry of no less than 400 aid trucks daily, along with a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from some areas.